From the opening moments of Pop Evil's set, to the last notes of Footsteps, they were just so darn good. Light, movement, show!!! They are masters of rock anthems that soar, but which are yet gritty and hard enough to appeal to this town of metal.

Chachi Riot on drums, Pop Evil

Everyone needs watching, every band member, every musician. Eyes jumping all over the stage, all night. Drums? Chachi Riot is (an) Animal! Stands up, thumps down, I bet he uses six or seven million calories in a performance, I think (hope!) I lost six pounds just watching. Those drums!!! He attacks them, it's a ballroom blitz, he pounds them to pieces, yet so very exactly-precisely. Duelling with Matt DiRito's bass; together the foundation, together the earthquake. And then Davey Grahs and Nick Fuelling on guitar, each making their presence felt, each with a part to play, different styles, different stage personas, different guitarists but like fraternal twins.

And of course, Leigh Kakaty on vocals, on lyrics; front man of a band that's very much more than the sum of parts; every member unique, every member a vital part of the musical tapestry; this is the Pop Evil family. It's obvious how much these guys trust and know each other, musically and in the space of the stage; they don't slow down, they move, they keep moving, all night. It's equally obvious how much they enjoy being up there and playing for the audience. It shows, and the show's wonderful.

Pop Evil, Ace of Spades, Sacramento

Pop Evil is a good name for this band. Direct, hard, nasty, but fun and easy too. Take a listen, if you haven't already. And be there, next time they are in town; hopefully, not too long before they are back. And if the folks in the audience last night have anything to do with it, they will be playing to a bigger audience; it was a midweek show bracketed by Between The Buried And Me/August Burns Red on Tuesday, and the Sammies local music awards tonight, and the Ace wasn't at capacity.

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